NETWORKS

ProCurve Networking by HP today announced it is expanding its offering for intelligent network design through the ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture. Three classes of products will deliver aggregation and core networking functionality for EDGE-enabled networks -- which run at a 25 percent to 30 percent lower cost when compared to traditional networks, while reducing complexity. -- Using enterprise networking technology and associated rights acquired from Riverstone Networks in June this year, ProCurve plans to introduce in mid-2005 the ProCurve EDGE Fabric -- a family of Ethernet local area network interconnect devices designed for users who want to optimize EDGE networks. -- ProCurve will continue to invest in traditional core products by introducing enhancements to its existing Switch 9300 series. -- To support existing architectures, ProCurve is announcing the ProCurve Switch 6400cl series, a family of high-performance 10 Gigabit wire-speed aggregators. With these products, ProCurve will offer a wide range of choices for designing networks based on the ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture. Recognizing the necessary migration of intelligence and functionality to the network edge, the architecture gives companies a cost-effective, easy-to-manage strategy for achieving command from the center with control to the edge. "Innovation and market drivers in the campus LAN market today center around security, mobility, redundancy/reliability and convergence. Companies must understand and support new security methods, advanced applications and new connection management solutions for their existing local area networks," said Mark Fabbi, vice-president, Gartner, Inc. "To that end, the market for solutions that truly support a next-generation LAN, cost-effectively, while enhancing performance for advanced applications will continue to grow." ProCurve EDGE Fabric -- an alternative to the traditional network core The ProCurve EDGE Fabric combines performance, availability, and value for building networks based on the Adaptive EDGE Architecture. An alternative to traditional core products, the EDGE Fabric is a high-performance, highly resilient interconnect that honors decisions made at the edge of the network where users connect. "Our network is constantly evolving. It has to, to meet the ever-changing needs of our business," said Rob Harder, telecoms manager, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. "ProCurve's EDGE Fabric integrates into our existing network design, which extends the useful life of equipment in the network, provides cost-effective scalability, and enables us to easily and cost-effectively migrate to an Adaptive EDGE Architecture design. "We increasingly demand more sophistication from our network infrastructure to support advanced applications," said Harder. "The ProCurve EDGE Fabric offers the intelligence and control to interconnect edge devices such as switches and access points to support these emerging applications and it offers this in an affordable, high-performing, reliable and scalable way. This helps future-proof our network for the business needs ahead." ProCurve EDGE Fabric offerings will interoperate with companies' existing network infrastructures, allowing a seamless migration to a complete Adaptive EDGE Architecture. With this flexibility, companies have a wider choice of options for designing, migrating and deploying intelligent edge networks while meeting the challenges of current and emerging applications. "Traditional network management strategies have placed all network intelligence and decision-making abilities in the core devices. This core-centric model creates several roadblocks to implementing a secure, mobile, multi-service network," said John McHugh, vice president and general manager, ProCurve Networking by HP. "Challenges associated with network performance, scalability and security are only the beginning; overall business efficiency suffers as well. With the addition of the EDGE Fabric, ProCurve offers customers the choice of traditional core network design or an EDGE optimized network, along with an affordable migration path from one to the other, enabling enterprises to meet the challenges of current and emerging applications." ProCurve Traditional Core Investment ProCurve continues to invest in traditional core networks to meet the needs of its diverse customer base. ProCurve will introduce enhancements to its existing 9300 series including IGMPv3, SSHv2, and ACL editing. ProCurve's continued investment in traditional core networks, paired with the new EDGE Fabric offering, will offer customers choice and flexibility in designing networks based on the Adaptive EDGE Architecture. ProCurve Switch 6400cl series -- reducing bottlenecks at unprecedented prices The ProCurve Switch 6400cl series are six-port 10GbE stackable switches with optional 10GbE add-on modules. Offering full layer 3 features, the Switch 6400cl series provides low-cost 10GbE for small, high-performance aggregation of clusters of gigabit switches. Ideal for consolidating multiple wiring closets, the Switch 6400cl series provides wire-speed connectivity for up to eight 10 Gigabit ports, along with fiber flexibility to connect remote campuses up to 40km away. The ProCurve Switch 6400cl series is ideal for medium to large enterprise customers who require a 10GbE routing solution to support consolidation of high-gigabit access density. The ProCurve Switch 6400cl series is offered in two models. The Switch 6400cl offers six fixed ports of the new copper standard (IEEE 802.3ak) that support 10Gbase-CX4 cabling. This enables affordable short distance connectivity for wiring closet aggregation, high-performance workgroups and server clustering. The Switch 6410cl offers the best media flexibility by offering transceiver-based slots that support X2 type 10-GbE transceivers. With transceiver slots on the Switch 6410cl, ProCurve will support all current 10-GbE fiber (IEEE802.3ae) and copper standards. The Switch 6400cl series can be utilized as a simple high-performance core switch, as the cornerstone of a low-cost, small, high-availability backbone, or as a distribution-level switch in a traditional core network. With an option of add-on two-port modules, the ProCurve Switch 6400cl series has the capacity to upgrade to a total of eight wire-speed 10G ports. The two-port modules are currently shipping with the newly released 3400cl series Gigabit stackables. Pricing and Availability The ProCurve EDGE Fabric family is expected to be available in mid-2005. The ProCurve Switch 6400cl series stackables is expected to be available spring 2005. The ProCurve Switch 10G Copper 6400cl-6XG has an estimated U.S. list price of $5,429. The ProCurve Switch 10G X2 6410cl-6XG has an estimated U.S. list price of $8,099. The ProCurve Switch 6400cl series comes with a lifetime hardware warranty and phone support at no additional cost, free software updates and next-business-day advance replacement in most countries. Background: The ProCurve Networking business unit of HP is a supplier of enterprise networking solutions comprising wired and wireless enterprise networking products, services and solutions -- including Ethernet switches, routing switches, wireless access points and network-management applications -- which allow customers to build networks based on open standards that meet current and future needs for security, performance and reliability. More information about ProCurve networking solutions and products is available at www.procurve.com. HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2004, HP revenue totaled $79.9 billion. More information about HP (NYSE:HPQ) (Nasdaq:HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.